Kalyan’s well-known Acharya Atre auditorium has come under scrutiny after artistes from the Marathi play Albatya Galbatya released a viral video alleging poor maintenance, technical failures, and unsafe conditions at the venue. The controversy has sparked criticism over the state of one of the city’s prominent cultural spaces and raised concerns regarding the upkeep of civic-run auditoriums.
In the video circulated widely on social media, members of the theatre group pointed to repeated electrical sparking incidents, malfunctioning technical systems, and disruptions during live performances. The artistes claimed that several complaints had been submitted to the management over the past few years, but little action had been taken to resolve the issues.
Actor Shraddha Hande stated that repeated technical glitches had forced performances to be stopped midway multiple times. “Over the last few years, we have had to stop performances nearly four to five times because of technical failures and electrical issues,” she said, adding that the interruptions created inconvenience for both performers and audiences.
The theatre group also raised concerns over malfunctioning air-conditioning systems, inadequate backstage facilities and recurring technical breakdowns. According to the artistes, audience members have often been forced to sit through performances in uncomfortable conditions because of non-functional cooling systems.
The issue has also revived questions surrounding renovation work carried out at the auditorium during the COVID-19 lockdown period. The artistes alleged that although substantial funds were reportedly spent on repairs and upgrades, the condition of the venue has shown little improvement.
Meanwhile, members of the theatre management committee reportedly defended the administration, claiming that no other theatre group had raised similar complaints regarding the auditorium.
The controversy has now taken a political turn, with Shiv Sena (UBT) functionary Umesh Borgaonkar demanding an inquiry into the renovation expenditure and alleging possible irregularities in the repair process.
The cast of Albatya Galbatya has warned that theatre groups may boycott the venue if immediate corrective measures are not undertaken.
Source: The Free Press Journal
